Evening Report – Rainbow Warrior Series – Video Interview with David Robie on book Launch Eyes of Fire

Evening Report – Rainbow Warrior Series – Interview with David Robie on book Launch Eyes of Fire, fifth edition.

Interview: With Dr David Robie
Interviewer: Selwyn Manning
Date: July 8, 2015
Subject: 30 years since the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior+ Launch of David Robie’s book Eyes of Fire (fifth edition)
Eyes of Fire publisher: eyes-of-fire.littleisland.co.nz.

Run Sheet:

Welcome to Evening Report. This Friday, July 10 marks 30 years since French DGSE operatives exploded two bombs destroying the Greenpeace flagship…. the Rainbow Warrior at Marsden Wharf in Auckland harbour. And on Friday July 10, journalist and academic Dr David Robie will launch the fifth edition of his book, Eyes of Fire.

The book is a rich account of the events surrounding the Rainbow Warrior affair.

And earlier today he joined me to discuss Eyes of Fire… why he was onboard the vessel on its last journey through the Pacific, his enduring memories of the time, and what lessons the Rainbow Warrior affair offers us now and in the future.

Questions include:

What is new to this third edition?

Bunny McDiarmid writes in the preface: ONCE YOU’VE seen the effects of nuclear testing with your own eyes, you can’t pretend it doesn’t exist – you’ve got to do something about it. This is what motivated and bound our small crew together in 1985.

Of course, the Rainbow Warrior will forever be synonymous with the attack orchestrated by the French DGSE. But for you the story is much more than just this.

Your were an observer and a participant of the Rainbow Warrior’s last voyage.

What are your enduring memories of it?
Memories of Rongelap?
Memories of Nuclear testing?
Memories of Climate change?

You have a dedication at the front of the book- identifying with people “who opened our eyes”. Can you tell us more about this?

What is the legacy of the Rainbow Warrior for this and future generations?

Selwyn Manning, BCS (Hons.) MCS (Hons.) is an investigative political journalist with 23 years media experience. He specializes in reportage and analysis of socioeconomics, politics, foreign affairs, and security/intelligence issues.
Selwyn has extensive experience as a commentator and has provided live political analysis to a wide range of television and radio organizations broadcasting in New Zealand, Australia and globally including the BBC (Five Live, London) and BBC (World Service). He is currently a correspondent to Australia's FiveAA radio, and is a regular live-on-air panelist on Radio New Zealand's The Panel with broadcaster Jim Mora.